Bradley County school teacher surrenders on sex charge

Bradley County school teacher surrenders on sex charge

A female teacher at Walker Valley High School in Bradley County, Tenn., surrendered to police Tuesday after a grand jury indicted her on one count of sexual battery by an authority figure.

Police said an investigation was triggered in late September when 32-year-old Christie David was accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a 15-year-old male former student. The incident happened recently, a police spokesman said.

The Bradley County school system suspended David, who taught language arts, at the first of the month and wouldn't talk about the allegations. Her bond is being set at $10,000.

Calls to David's home and to her husband, James, weren't returned. But information online paints a contrasting picture of David.

On her Facebook page, David hugs her husband, smiling. There is another picture of her and a young child. She graduated from Lee University, it says. She likes Christian music, the movie "The Princess Bride" and quilting. On her husband's business website, she writes that she teaches spin class at the local YMCA and has kept off 41 pounds for a year.

A call to the YMCA to find David resulted in confusion. The woman who answered the phone knew her, but said she couldn't believe the charges.

"Are you sure you are asking for the right person?" she said. "That doesn't sound like the Christie David I know."

Contact staff writer Joan Garrett at jgarrett@times freepress.com or 423-757-6601. Follow her on Twitter at @JoanGarrettCTFP.